Showing posts with label Purple Martins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purple Martins. Show all posts



§ Back in March...


I'm behind in my photo shares this time around. I've been out and about a few days this week, but realize that I have pictures yet on the computer from the month of March. I've traversed the mudflats again at Mollie Beattie Community where they have the areas cordoned off for nesting to check for plovers. I also walked the channel that takes you out to the Gulf. Stopped one day at the Willows. It's been hot and muggy, so I'm not sticking around the areas for a long period, but I am seeing a few migrants here and there. I didn't get a chance to go to the island this past weekend 'cause the world famous Sandfest was taking place for the 3 day weekend...100s of 1000s people attend yearly. I'm really glad I decided to stick close to home, 'cause what I heard on the news, the bridge I use to cross the intercoastal highway [waterway] was at a standstill for HOURS!! An accident on the bridge [which is under construction, with one lane only] So, today, I will showcase my March images I captured while on my morning walks...



PURPLE MARTINS [female and male]
Habitat map: Martin



RING BILLED GULL
Habitat map: Gull



SCISSORTAIL FLYCATCHER
Habitat map: Flycatcher



BELTED KINGFISHER
Habitat map: Kingfisher



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§ June Birds...


On Wednesday of this past week, we had a few hours' break in rainfall. I took advantage of it going in search of a rare, vagrant hummingbird that was reported about 20 miles northwest of us in Corpus. Of course it was seen in a private residential area, but I still thought..."Hey, something to do besides sit at home and sulk about the nasty weather". Got there, scouted out the landscape and talked with the property owner, but to no avail. And since the roads were pretty clear of flooding, I left and drove another 15-20 miles to the edge of the hill country of South Texas and pulled over to check out the Great Egret rookery that I visited in early June [when they were building nests on the pond's edge]. Naturally, once I pulled over, it began to rain. First a light mist, then, another downpour. I got a few photos. They are still on my camera's card, and I will get them uploaded to post next Saturday.

Predicted rainfall 12-15 inches [38cm] total by the weekend. Goodie! And we weren't even close to Hurricane Elsa.

In the meantime, I will share these from earlier this summer:


RUDDY DUCK
Habitat map: Duck


NEOTROPIC CORMORANT
[there are TWO -the one behind the front one has its wings open]
Habitat map: Cormorant


BLACK NECKED STILT
Habitat map: Stilt


PAINTED BUNTING
Habitat map: Bunting


FERAL PIGEON
Habitat map: Pigeon -everywhere


PURPLE MARTIN
Habitat map: Martin



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§ Migrants...


A few migrant birds are showing up here and there these days. Altho, I haven't taken much time to chase after them in hotspot areas around my part of Texas, but I have seen some while on my walks.  I walk, with birding in mind tho, relying on chance sightings.  I was quite elated to actually get a photo of the 'widow' as I walked along the sidewalk leaving a wooded park area... since they are always so skittish and quite elusive, and being a swift flyer, they are a challenge to re-spot again when flushed out of their quietude....



AMERICAN REDSTART [male]
Habitat map: Redstart


BRONZED COWBIRD
Habitat map: Cowbird


WOOD THRUSH
Habitat map: Thrush


NASHVILLE WARBLER [?] id may be incorrect - If not, help will be appreciated
Habitat map: Warbler


PURPLE MARTIN [males outside the 'condo', female inside peeking out]
Habitat map: Martin


CHUCK WILL'S WIDOW
Habitat map: Widow


HOODED WARBLER
Habitat map: Warbler


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§ Oso Bay Wetlands...


Early, this past Sunday, instead of my usual drive to the islands, I chose to walk my walk along the many trails within the Oso Bay area. I first stopped at the learning center which is part of our city's school district, where school aged children can take classes and attend nature trail walking to learn about our environment. I saw a few Purple Martins at their newly erected condos, watched birds around the waterfall and the lily pond...then "hit the many pathways" to see what birds I could find at that hour of day. It seemed every where I walked, the thrashers, mockingbirds, and buntings were happy to have another beautiful morning. As I was.  At least before the heat built up. Unfortunately I can't fly up to the tops of the trees or nestle in the shade of the leaves on the branches and sing.   I had to stay on the ground with the hordes of mosquitoes that are thick as molasses since a week of days with heavy rainfall. Besides, I sing off key anyway, I'd scare the bird-life away. Here are some I spotted along the way....

...the first one, by the waterfall was one flitting about and talking to its mate perhaps. I was only able to get one not-so-good photo with branch obstruction:



ASH THROATED FLYCATCHER  or Brown crested?
habitat map: Flycatcher
Length:  8.5 inches
Wingspan:  12 inches

A young Northern Mockingbird watched me with suspicion...


NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
habitat map: Mockingbird
Length:  10.5 inches
Wingspan:  15 inches

Serenading me with a mockingbird-like repertoire, from high atop a mesquite tree, I finally spied this one.  It is a close relative of another similar bird [the other is more rusty than dull brown seen here].  This particular species is found in  South Texas and Old Mexico...


LONG BILLED THRASHER
habitat map: Thrasher
Length:  11.5 inches
Wingspan:  12 inches

On most all trails on this day, it seemed to have one male painted bunting. I saw a lot of them just about everywhere, but no females [they're pretty too...perhaps nesting?] Busy singing [some were preening AND singing].


PAINTED BUNTING
habitat map:  Bunting
Length:  5.5 inches
Wingspan:  8.5 inches


Once I arrived at the off the ground observation deck by the bay water, the only bird spotted was a stilt:


BLACK NECKED STILT
habitat map:  Stilt
Length:  14-15 inches
Wingspan:  26 inches

...the apartment complex on the grounds:



PURPLE MARTIN
habitat map:  Martin
Length:  8 inches
Wingspan:  16 inches

I feel like adding a partridge in a pear tree 'bout now, but no...I saw two turtle mourning doves! [one photographed]


MOURNING DOVE
habitat map:  Dove
Length:  12 inches
Wingspan:  17-19 inches

This area is usually abundant in Northern Cardinals...I only saw one!! Near the end of my time out and about. Near the student's playground:


NORTHERN CARDINAL
habitat map:  Cardinal
Length:  9 inches
Wingspan:  11.5 inches


And while I was walking to leave, another flycatcher alerted me. I stopped to get pics. Notice its tail above my watermark.  [also:  with adult males, the tail can reach lengths of 15 inches -38 cm, while the females are much shorter, by 30% or more] And also, for those that don't know this species, that rusty look above the wing in the close up is not blood or an injury - it's the wing color...


SCISSOR TAIL[ed] FLYCATCHER
habitat map:  Flycatcher
Length:  11-15 inches
Wingspan:  15 inches




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Participating this week:

A Quiet Corner
Cranium Bolts
Birds Seen in Europe and Africa
Linda, Virginia, USA
Arun
Jean@NotSoOrganized 
Travels With Birds [no hyperlink]
Tomthebackroadstraveller
The Early Birder
Phil UK
Lea's Menagerie
Lavender Dreams



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§ The Return of the Purple Martins....


I mentioned last week, on my Aplomado Falcon post that I observed the return of the Purple Martins; a type of swallow. I spent several hours at our local Botanical Gardens where they have several Martin Condos.  Before leaving the garden properties, the Martins entertained me.  The males are dark black with purple-blue and the females are a dusky gray. This is part of what I observed...




From Wikipedia: Martins make their nests in cavities, either natural or artificial. In many places, humans put up real or artificial hollow gourds, or houses for martins, especially in the east, where purple martins are almost entirely dependent on such structures. 

As a result, this subspecies typically breeds in colonies. I'm always happy to see them arrive in Spring, and happy because of those that have the resources to set up an area for them to nest since Purple martins suffered a severe population drop linked to the release of starlings in North America. Starlings [and house sparrows] compete with martins for the natural nest cavities. Where purple martins once gathered by the thousands, and within the last two/three decades had all but disappeared. Now they are slowly recovering.




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